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<DIV id=productTitle sizset="4" sizcache="1"><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
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<DIV sizset="4" sizcache="1"><STRONG>Diversity and Distributions</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV id=publishedOnlineDate sizset="4" sizcache="1">Article first published
online: 7 JUN 2011</DIV>
<DIV id=doi>DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00798.x</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=articleTitle><FONT size=4>Recreational boating: a large unregulated
vector transporting marine invasive species</FONT></DIV>
<DIV id=cr1>Cathryn Clarke Murray<SUP>1,*</SUP>, Evgeny A. Pakhomov<SUP>1</SUP>,
Thomas W. Therriault<SUP>2</SUP></DIV>
<DIV><SUP>1</SUP> Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British
Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada<SUP>2</SUP> Pacific Biological Station,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, BC, Canada. Correspondence: Cathryn Clarke
Murray, E-mail: <!--TODO: clickthrough URL--><A
title="Link to email address" href="mailto:cclarke@eos.ubc.ca" shape=rect><FONT
color=#007e8a>cclarke@eos.ubc.ca</FONT></A></DIV>
<UL class="" id=footnotes><FONT color=#007e8a></FONT></UL>
<DIV id=publicationHistoryDetails jQuery1308000092535="10">
<H4>Abstract</H4></DIV>
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<DIV id=abstract>
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<P><B>Aim </B>Recreational boating is arguably the largest unregulated vector
for the introduction and spread of marine invasive species. Hull fouling
communities have been recognized to harbour non-indigenous species (NIS), but
presence should not be equated with transport. In this study, we characterize
the presence of NIS in hull fouling communities, determine if host vessels
transport these species and evaluate the importance of recreational boating as a
vector for introduction and spread.</P></DIV>
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<P><B>Location </B>Coastal British Columbia (BC), Canada.</P></DIV>
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<P><B>Methods </B>Dive surveys in BC marinas were conducted to record the
presence of NIS and to estimate their per cent cover. In addition, a boater
questionnaire survey was used to determine common travel and maintenance
practices. These results were combined to investigate the potential for
recreational boats to transport NIS.</P></DIV>
<DIV class=para>
<P><B>Results </B>Nine NIS, including the highly invasive ascidians <EM>Styela
clava</EM> and <EM>Botrylloides violaceus</EM>, and the macroalga <EM>Sargassum
muticum</EM>, were found in hull fouling communities on recreational boats.
Overall, per cent cover was generally low; however, niche areas were commonly
fouled, even on active and otherwise clean boats. Fouling of niche areas was not
related to either antifouling paint age or travel frequency, and fouling levels
were highly variable among individual boats both within marinas and across
regions.</P></DIV>
<DIV class=para>
<P><B>Main conclusions </B>Recreational boating is a major vector contributing
to the spread of marine invasive species. Our results indicate that recreational
boats represent a high-risk vector both for primary introduction and secondary
spread of marine NIS and should be subject to vector management
regulations.</P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>